The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts continues with a crunchy conundrum: why are cinema snacks so loud when you are supposed to be quiet? Michael Rivera from London posed this question, and readers have responded with a mix of humour, insight, and exasperation.
The Profit Motive
Several readers pointed to the economics of cinema snack sales. Sagarmatha1953 noted that cinema chains turn a huge profit selling noisy snacks like popcorn, nachos, and fizzy drinks, adding that a quiet cinema is usually an empty cinema. EBGB agreed, stating that the overpricing is the point from the cinemas’ perspective, while Blackmoustache recalled reading that popcorn was a cheap postwar snack used by cinemas to make extra money.
Acoustic Design and Perception
Dorkalicious offered a technical explanation: cinemas are acoustically designed to immerse audiences, heavily insulated from external noise, which makes food wrapper rustling or eating much more obvious. They also noted that noise propagates spherically and may reach ears before being muffled by insulation. Wordchazer suggested that perhaps films are delivered at deafening volume because cinemas are no longer quiet places.
Social Etiquette and Personal Habits
Many readers shared their own strategies. salamandertome argued that snacks aren’t noisy if you don’t stuff them in your face during the film. alexito revealed that they bring raw celery and carrots to cinemas, waiting an hour into the film to eat. Plastictrees described eating popcorn very slowly to avoid noise, letting each kernel melt in their mouth. However, livcommentspoorly recounted a frustrating experience with a loud popcorn eater and chose to stick a finger in their ear rather than ruin the person’s enjoyment.
Philosophical Musings
trp9871 compared audience noises to unintentional Cage-like compositions, referencing John Cage’s 4’33”. They suggested that the noise itself is the point, with the screen serving as a mere diversion. Another reader, bricklayersoption, questioned why people feel compelled to eat overpriced food in the cinema at all, advocating for eating beforehand or afterwards.
Next week’s question: if an alien landed and asked you, ‘What is this thing you call music,’ what would you play for them? And why? Send new questions to nq@theguardian.com.
